More than three hundred recipes for the relaxed, flavourful food French home cooks really make, collected by Dorie Greenspan over years of living in Paris
How the French really cook at home
Dorie Greenspan has spent years living part of the time in Paris, cooking with friends and neighbours, shopping at markets and paying attention to what people actually serve at home. This book gathers more than three hundred of those recipes: nibbles to serve with drinks, soups, salads, simple main courses, vegetable dishes and desserts. The emphasis is on approachable dishes rather than restaurant showpieces, each with notes, stories and serving tips.
Who will enjoy it
Home cooks who love French food but find classic cookbooks intimidating, readers who enjoy cookbooks with stories, and anyone planning relaxed dinner parties.
What you will get
A generous, friendly cookbook of the food French families actually cook at home, with clear recipes, personal stories and tips for serving and variations.
Around My French Table Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Nonfiction · French home cooking · Everyday recipes · Paris kitchen
Length
544 pages · ≈ 16 h
More about this book
Greenspan's great gift is clarity. Her recipes are written in a conversational voice, with every step explained and frequent notes on what to look for, what can be made ahead and what to swap. The result is a French cookbook that feels welcoming rather than strict. Dishes like cheese-topped onion soup, a slow beef daube, gougères and a simple chocolate mousse become very manageable.
The range is wide, from quick weeknight plates to dishes for long weekend lunches, and many recipes rely on ingredients available in an ordinary supermarket. Short essays on French food customs, market shopping and friends' kitchens add charm. Alan Richardson's photographs are inviting and help with presentation.
The book is big and heavy, so it is better on a kitchen shelf than for browsing in bed. A few recipes call for specialist items, and the sheer number of dishes can make choosing hard at first. Bakers may also want her separate baking book for desserts. As a long-term companion for relaxed French cooking, it is excellent value. About 544 pages in the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt hardcover.
Mastering the Art of French Cooking
My Life in France
Dorie's Cookies
The Art of Simple Food
Baking with Julia
Love Real Food
Ready for Dessert
Baking: From My Home to Yours
Dinner in French
Baked Explorations
Vintage Cakes
Persiana